Tag: tae kwon do

When you have more than one child it is inevitable that you are going to compare them. In fact, everyone will compare them. This can be helpful when assessing your children’s developmental markers, predicting when their tantrum stage may end (0r not) and when trying to understand what makes each one tick.

It gets tricky when we get so caught up in labels that we sometimes forget to see what is right in front of us.

T.Puzzle has always appeared to be more timid and shy when compared to the robust nature of his older brother. I’m not so sure anymore.

Watching him lead the Tiny Tiger oath during his graduation ceremony has led me to believe I may be underestimating this kid. His punches and kicks are not as intense as Full Speed’s at this age (see, there I go again with the comparing) and he tends to move at a slightly more calm pace (ever so slightly). This doesn’t mean he doesn’t have his own leadership qualities hidden underneath his rascally dimples.

Parenting should be less about labels and trying to figure out who our kids are going to be. It’s more about letting who they are unfold naturally and all the glorious discoveries we will make about them as individuals along the way.

Mad Dog has taken the boys to tae kwon do practice two days running. I have whole-heartedly enjoyed the reprieve.

As they sauntered out to the studio Full Speed was shocked that Mom was staying behind.

“You’re not coming with us? What are you going to do, Mom?”

I didn’t want to share that my plans consisted of a whole lot of nothing. I had a hot date with my Redbook magazine and XM Radio holiday traditions, baby.

“Well, Mom, I guess you are going to the Motherland to rest and relax,” he decided. I love that he coined this new term and acted as if we use the word ‘Motherland’ in casual conversation all the time.

That’s when it dawned on me. I need to create a Disney-like complex dedicated for Moms only. There would be kiosks of cocktails and stores full of fashion and shoes. Instead of rides and attractions there would be spa treatments and chocolate tastings. It would have fantastic lighting that would flatter the face and a perimeter flanked with mirrors that when looked in, would reflect back a slimmer silhouette.

We would all feel beautiful, loved and appreciated. I’d even open the doors to anyone who is a caregiver in any capacity. Daycare teachers, Grandmas, nurses, friends, etc. would all be welcome.

Oh, T.Puzzle. There were times when I was nicknaming you for this blog, that unfortunately words like shark and razor tooth were at the top of the heap. As I went through the catalogue of your gifts and idiosyncracies, a fascination with using your chompers for evil was a strong contender for possible names.

So happy I went the puzzle route instead.

We all dream our children will find their passion. We hope they excell at whatever they choose to endeavor.

One of T.Puzzle’s favorite endeavors is to bite his brother.

It didn’t start out this way. He used to bite about anyone or anything in his path.

I told you he was gifted.

Thankfully, except for the rare attempt here and there on innocent bystanders, he now seems to mostly isolate his attacks on Full Speed.

Is it bad that I’m secretly grateful he is only biting his brother?

I feel if he keeps it in our family there’s less chance of a lawsuit.

What’s a Mom to do?

I wrote an extremely unfavorable behavior report for tae kwon do about his recent double-biting-brother escapades over Thanksgiving break.

Here’s how it went down:

“First, let’s commend little Bobby for helping his sister with the dishes,” exclaimed the instructor as he rattled off the first exemplary behavior report.

“Wow, great job to little Jenny for being polite and using her manners,” he continued.

It went on and on. One after the other did something more extraordinary than the student before him.

Until…

we got to T.Puzzle and his report of biting doom.

And this was when my other dream of having a child stand out in a crowd was fully realized.

It was Full Speed’s turn to graduate. I have less reservations about his involvement in tae kwon do because since the age of three, he has taken to it like a fish to water. I figure there can’t be any real lasting damage if the kid is having a blast.

As for the adults viewing the nearly two and a half hour long graduation spectacle, I don’t think we fared quite as well (my apologies to Grandma and Grandpa for the extreme time commitment, on a Saturday no less!). Apparently, we got off easy. Previous graduations for juniors and above have clocked in at five hours.

Why oh why can’t Full Speed be a Tiny Tiger forever? One hour graduations for the little kids are the bomb. And, poor T.Puzzle was beside himself with boredom and hunger near the end of Full Speed’s graduation. He sounded like a broken record, “Can I get some pizza? Can I get some pizza? How about some pizza peeps?”

Full Speed in attack mode as he spars for his belt advancement.

Despite all this, we enjoyed watching Full Speed perform his forms, kicks and punches. He sparred like a champ and showed great attention and focus. As for me, I showed great attention and focus, but only when Full Speed was on the mat. The rest of the time I too, dreamed of pizza (and shopping, and reading and birds and the meaning of life, pretty much anything except tae kwon do).